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2008 Wisconsin deer hunting season framework set

MADISON – Deer hunters in Wisconsin will have a 2008 season structure that includes a four-day October antlerless deer only gun hunt in most “herd control” and all “earn-a-buck” deer management units, under a framework approved by the state Natural Resources Board at its meeting in Madison on April 23. The framework is for deer management units outside of the southern Wisconsin Chronic Wasting Disease management zones.

The season structure also includes an Oct. 11-12 youth hunt and a Dec. 11-14 antlerless only firearm hunt. Details of the adopted [PDF] are available on the Natural Resources Board pages of the DNR Web site.

“Hunters had, by most measures, a very good 2007 season,” said Keith Warnke, big game biologist for the Department of Natural Resources. “The deer population remains at record levels this spring, despite the severe winter in northeastern Wisconsin. This hunting season, we are in position to make measurable progress in moving the deer population downward, closer to population goals.

“Getting the statewide deer population down to established goals will take time, it won’t be accomplished in one season,” the biologist told board members, “but we are making progress. Once we reach goals in the units, we’ll need to keep a close watch on them to keep them at or near goal.”

Oct. 16-19 antlerless deer hunt

The October four-day antlerless deer gun hunt will be Oct. 16-19 in most Herd Control and all EAB deer management units. There are 56 units designated as herd control units (five of which are state parks), 35 designated as earn-a-buck units (six of which are state parks), and 22 regular units (one state park). Units in the Central Forest Deer Management Region are exempted from antlerless gun hunt. The 2008 Deer Management Unit map indicating which deer management units are regular, herd control, earn-a-buck or CWD management, is available on the DNR Web site.

A two-year trial moratorium on the October antlerless gun hunt expired at the end of the 2007 season.

“In 2005, the department, with the support of all major hunting groups and legislative approval, implemented the trial moratorium at the request of stakeholders. Hunting groups felt that hunters could harvest enough antlerless deer to bring deer herd numbers down to established population goals during the traditional nine-day gun season, the muzzleloader season and a four-day December antlerless only gun hunt,” Warnke noted.

Stakeholders set a performance measure for the trial. That measure was a harvest ratio of antlerless to antlered deer of 2 to 1 or greater in herd control units in each of state’s five deer management regions. The minimum 2 to 1 ratio was not met in four of five deer management regions, meaning October gun hunting will return in all but the Central Forest Deer Management Region where hunters reached a 1.95 to 1 mark.

“The department feels this result was sufficiently close to the benchmark to not recommend October gun hunting in the Central Forest Region at this time,” he said.

Earn-a-Buck and prequalification

EAB regulations will be in effect in 35 deer management units outside of the CWD management zones, which are also EAB in 2008. EAB requires a hunter to first shoot an antlerless deer before shooting a buck.

Prequalification was introduced in 2006 and has proven popular with hunters. Many hunters voiced concern over having to pass up a buck on opening day because they hadn’t shot an antlerless deer first. Prequalification allows a hunter to harvest an antlerless deer in any of the state’s EAB or CWD units and receive a buck sticker at a registration station that may be used in the current year or in the coming year in any EAB unit anywhere in the state.

2008 Season dates

• Archery season Sept. 13-Nov. 20 and Dec. 1-Jan. 4, 2009:
• Youth hunt Oct. 11-12:
• Early antlerless deer only gun hunt in Herd Control and Earn-a-buck deer management units, including CWD units (units in the Central Forest Deer Management Region do not have the Oct 16-19 antlerless gun hunt) Oct. 16-19:
• Traditional nine-day fire arm season Nov. 22-30:
• Muzzleloader firearm only Dec. 1-10:
• December antlerless deer only gun hunt in all units (state park units may offer this hunt. Check regulations for state park units) Dec. 11-14.

The full regulations pamphlet, 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations, should be available online in late spring or early summer and in hard copy in early summer, according to wildlife officials.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023

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2008 hunting season set in CWD management zone

Regulations subject to legislative review

MADISON – Hunters in areas of southern Wisconsin where efforts are underway to control the spread of the Chronic Wasting Disease will have a new season framework under a proposal the Natural Resources Board adopted at its meeting in Madison on April 23. The season framework must still pass legislative review.

The board approved combining the two previous CWD management zones (the “herd reduction zone” and the “herd eradication zone”) into a single zone with consistent regulations, season dates and firearm rules across the zone.

Other highlights of the season proposal include:

• Establishing interim deer population goals that are 20 percent below the population goals that were in place in 2001 in the affected deer management units.
• Establishment of a season structure that is similar to the rest of the state.
• Allowing use of rifles in the entire combined CWD management zone except for metro units.
• A late firearm season, dubbed a “holiday season,” that provides additional hunting opportunities.
• All seasons in the CWD Management Zone would be unlimited Earn-a-Buck (EAB) with prequalification except during two antlerless only seasons in October and December.

Full details of the rule adopted by the NRB [PDF] are available on the Natural Resources Board pages of the DNR Web site. The 2008 Deer Management Unit map is also available.

EAB requires a hunter to first shoot an antlerless deer before shooting a buck. Prequalification was introduced two seasons back and has proven popular with hunters. Prequalification allows a hunter to harvest an antlerless deer in any of the state’s (**correction** hunters do not earn buck stickers in herd control units) EAB or CWD units and receive a buck sticker good in the current year or in the coming year in any EAB unit anywhere in the state.

Other regulations adopted but not in effect until 2009 are a prohibition on importing whole cervid (deer, moose and elk) carcasses from areas within other states or provinces where CWD is found into Wisconsin and transporting whole carcasses from Wisconsin’s CWD management zone to elsewhere in the state.

The seasons adopted by the NRB in part include recommendations forwarded by a citizens CWD stakeholder group convened to advise the department on potential future CWD management strategies.

Season dates

The CWD Zone deer hunting seasons are unlimited Earn-a-Buck except where noted and are as follows:

• Sept. 14 –Jan. 4, 2009: Archery
• Oct. 11-12: Youth hunt (Youth hunters are required to use their gun buck deer carcass tag to harvest an antlered deer during this hunt in all units, including CWD and EAB units. Youth hunters may earn a buck sticker if they shoot an antlerless deer in a CWD or EAB unit during this hunt.).
• Oct. 16-19: Early firearm, antlerless only
• Nov. 22-30: Traditional fire arm season
• Dec. 1-10: Muzzleloader firearm only
• Dec. 11-14: Late firearm, antlerless only
• Dec. 24-Jan. 4, 2009: Holiday firearm season

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke, 608-264-6023

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Boaters urged to take steps to prevent spread of disease and aquatic invasive species

MADISON – Practice good hygiene.

That sound advice that mothers, teachers and doctors give to help prevent the spread of illness is equally important this year for anglers and boaters to help keep Wisconsin lakes and fish healthy, state invasive species experts say.

The discovery of hydrilla, a new invasive aquatic plant in Wisconsin waters, on top of last year’s detection of a new fish disease that’s deadly for a broad range of game fish, panfish and bait fish, underscore the need for boaters and anglers to take a few simple steps to prevent accidentally spreading these invaders to new lakes.

To make sure they are doing everything they can to prevent introducing VHS, zebra mussels, or Eurasian water-milfoil to a favorite lake or river, anglers and boaters should:

• Buy bait fish only from a Wisconsin bait dealer.
• Drain lake or river water from boat, live wells and bait containers before leaving a landing.
• Do not move live fish away from any water, except for live minnows purchased from a Wisconsin bait dealer and kept under certain conditions.
• Inspect your boat and trailer and remove all fish, mud and plant matter.

Such steps are critical because the main way that invasive species and diseases spread to new waters is aboard boating and fishing equipment,” says Jeff Bode, who leads Department of Natural Resources aquatic invasive species efforts. “While most boaters take pride in cleaning their rig, we need everyone to take the steps to assure they’re not part of the problem,” he says. “Do not leave a lake or river with water, plants or live fish in or on your boat, trailer or boating and fishing equipment.”

Water left in boat bilges, live wells and bait buckets can harbor young zebra mussels and the virus that causes VHS fish disease, as well as other invasive species. Eurasian water milfoil, an invasive plant that forms thick mats at the water’s surface, is easily snagged and carried on boat motors and trailers and a single fragment can colonize a new water.

And infected bait fish are the prime way that VHS fish disease, detected in Lake Michigan and the Lake Winnebago system waters in 2007, can be moved inland to new lakes and rivers.

State rules prohibit the movement of water, plants and live fish, with limited exceptions for purchased minnows kept under certain conditions. The VHS rules are in effect statewide to prevent the spread of VHS, and a 2001 law prevents people from launching a boat with any plants attached.

Conservation wardens and paid and volunteer watercraft inspectors will be out on the water during the fishing opener. Chief Conservation Warden Randy Stark says wardens will be working with the public to create a climate of compliance with rules to prevent the spread of VHS and aquatic invasive species through a combination of enforcement, education and local partnerships.

“We all love our lakes. Help us protect them – practice good boating hygiene,” Stark said.

Sportspeople are encouraged to report violations of VHS rules, invasive species rules, and other regulations to our hotline at 1-800-TIP-WDNR.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Solomon (608) 267-3531; Christal Campbell (608) 264-8976, aquatic invasive species outreach coordinator

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Shooting two turkeys could mean double trouble

POYNETTE – Spring turkey hunters need to make sure of their target and what is near it before pulling the trigger, according to state conservation wardens who have reported number of incidents involving turkey hunters accidently bagging more than one bird with a single shot.

David Holmes, Poynette, a Warden Supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources South Central Region, advises hunters to follow the rules of hunter safety and to be sure of their target, as well as what lies in front of and beyond it.

“Often times in the excitement of the hunt, a hunter can develop tunnel vision and fail to see the other turkeys standing in close proximity to the turkey they intend to harvest,” Holmes said.

During several recent investigations, wardens learned that turkey hunters had forgotten that a shotgun shoots much different than a rifle. A shotgun disperses a pattern of fine shot, not a single projectile like a rifle. As that pattern of fine shot goes further away from the muzzle, it widens out and may unintentionally strike other turkeys standing near by.

Since turkeys often stand in close proximity to other turkeys, the hunter may accidently strike and kill other birds.

“Turkeys are generally social in nature, especially in the spring breeding season, and tend to stay in extended family groups throughout their life cycle. This makes them more susceptible to accidental harvest,” pointed out Eric Lobner, DNR wildlife supervisor at Fitchburg.

Both men note that there are several things turkey hunters can do to prevent an over bagging incident. These include:

• Select a hunting location that allows you to best see the area where you intend to shoot.
• Be aware that rolling topography or thick brush may obscure other objects or turkeys that may be near your intended target.
• Before you pull the trigger, look around. Are there other turkeys standing near the one that you intend to shoot? If so, wait for an open shot.
• Take shots that are within the effective range of your shotgun.

Wisconsin’s spring turkey hunting season consists of six 5-day periods, each running Wednesday through Sunday. They began April 16 and end May 25. The season is limited to one “bearded” or male turkey per permit issued.

More information on wild turkeys and hunting is available on the DNR Web site.

Hunters who accidently harvest more than one bird and do not have the proper permits should immediately contact a local conservation warden by calling 1(800) 847-9367 or 1 (800) TIP-WDNR.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: David Holmes, (608) 835-8116 or Eric Lobner, (608) 275-3474

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Spraying will begin soon to combat gypsy moth

Public invited to comment on environmental analysis of suppression plan

MADISON – State officials are finalizing plans for the 2008 gypsy moth aerial suppression spraying program, which is expected to begin next month, and are seeing public comment on the environmental assessment for the suppression program.

Aerial suppression spraying will begin, weather permitting, in early May in 16 Wisconsin counties and will cover a total of 12,596 acres at 141 locations. Treatments are proposed for portions of Adams, Brown, Columbia, Dane, Door, Green Lake, Juneau, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Rock, Sauk and Waushara counties.Spraying is done at the request of landowners, communities or counties and is completely voluntary.

Suppression spraying helps reduce gypsy moth populations to prevent them from defoliating trees in those areas, according to said Andrea Diss-Torrance, gypsy moth suppression supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources.

“In preparing the environmental assessment, we’ve concluded that the suppression spraying program proposed for 2008 does not pose any threat to the areas to be treated,” Diss-Torrance said. “We’ve researched the kinds of plants and animals that live in the areas to be sprayed, taken into consideration the insecticide to be used, and considered a host of other factors before coming to the conclusion that this spraying is as environmentally safe as possible.”

DNR staff made a preliminary determination that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required for this proposal.

The Gypsy Moth Suppression Environmental Assessment is available on the DNR Web site at [http:// dnr.wi.gov/org/land/Forestry/FH/gm/eacomment.html]. People may receive a copy of the assessment from or submit written comments on the assessment to Andrea Diss-Torrance, Wisconsin DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or by calling her at (608) 264-9247. Written comments will be accepted until May 12, 2008.

Gypsy moths are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa and were introduced to the United States in the late 1860s in an attempt to breed a hardy silk worm. The moths have flourished in the eastern United States and were first detected in Wisconsin in the late 1980s. Populations of the moth and its destructive caterpillar can explode in early summer every five to 15 years. They feed on oaks, crabapple, linden, willow, birch, aspen, and more than 250 other species of trees. The caterpillars hatch in May and feed through early July.

More information about gypsy moth and its management is available at Wisconsin Gypsy Moth [exit DNR].

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Diss-Torrance at (608) 264-9247

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Horicon Marsh again site of annual bird festival, May 9-12

Birders will gather at the DNR Horicon Marsh Service Center

HORICON – Birding enthusiasts will gather May 9 through 12 at the Department of Natural Resources Horicon Marsh Field Office for the annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival.

This Horicon Marsh gathering is eagerly anticipated by veteran and beginning birders who flock to the marsh at the peak of the migration each spring. The marsh itself is located in a prime flyway for birds of all types providing great opportunities for viewing a wide variety of birds as they stop to rest and refuel on their flights north.

During the festival people will enjoy events throughout the days and evenings. Activities will include bird watching field trips, and hikers will get to see birds in prime locations in the marsh that are not normally seen by visitors. Activities begin at 6 a.m. daily.

There will be bird banding demonstrations, plus presentations on “Birdscaping” or landscaping for birds, wild birds of prey, warbler identification, waterfowl identification and other topics that will appeal to birders of all ages and at every level of interest in this hobby. May is the peak time for the migration of songbirds and shorebirds, and enthusiasts are almost guaranteed many sightings of their favorite birds and the sighting of new birds in their natural habitat.

In addition to various presentations and demonstrations, participants may make reservations – necessary for some activities -- for tours by both boat and bus.

The Horicon Marsh Bird Festival began in 1994. This is its 11th year.

According Bill Volkert, DNR naturalist and educator at Horicon, more than 290 species of birds have been documented at Horicon Marsh, making this one of the top birding hotspots in the upper Midwest. Visitors have the opportunity to find many threatened and endangered species that rely on this marsh during the year to maintain their populations.

The Horicon Marsh has been recognized as a "Wetland of International Importance" and a "Globally Important Bird Area," which provides abundant opportunities for the study and management of Wisconsin birds.

The festival is a project of the Horicon Marsh Bird Club and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It has grown each year and attendance last year was around 2,000 people who came from across the country. However, due to the numerous activities and vastness of the marsh, participants don’t feel crowded. The Horicon Marsh Bird Festival is billed as the oldest Birding Festival in Wisconsin.

Birders will find the festival at the DNR’s Field Office in the City of Horicon, located on North Palmatory Street. Event signs will direct visitors from Highways 28 and 33. People who wish additional information should call 920-387-7860.

Information detailing the activities of the festival can be found on the website of the Horicon Marsh Bird Club [exit DNR].

The Horicon Marsh is more than 32,000 acres and is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. The northern two thirds of the marsh is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service as the 21,000 acre Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. The southern one third of the marsh is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area. Both the federal and state portions of the marsh will be participating in this event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Volkert, DNR Natural Resources Educator, 920-387-7877

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Construction industry reminded of need for effective erosion controls

Spring rains increase chance of soil from sites washing into lakes

MADISON – Developers, construction contractors and construction site owners need to take special care in spring to assure that April showers bring only May flowers -- and not a load of soil from a construction site into lakes and rivers.

Projects that disturb one or more acres of land are required under Department of Natural Resources rules to control soil erosion from their construction site, and meeting that legal responsibility is very important in the spring, state water quality officials say. Smaller sites may be affected by local rules governing construction site erosion.

“Effective erosion control is important throughout the year, but early spring is crucial because bare soil from open construction sites are exposed to spring rains,” says Jim Bertolacini, Department of Natural Resources stormwater specialist. “Also, erosion control measures installed before the snow started may be compromised due to the lack of maintenance during the winter.”

A construction site without erosion controls can send 30 tons of soil per acre into lakes and rivers. For instance, a U.S. Geological Survey study of two small construction sites found that sediment loads from the two monitored construction sites were proportionally 10 times larger than typical loads from rural and urban land uses in Wisconsin [Soil Erosion from Two Small Construction Sites, Dane County, Wisconsin [PDF exit DNR]].

Sediment from construction sites entering Wisconsin’s lakes, streams, and other waterways degrades aquatic habitat and delivers other pollutants, including nutrients such as phosphorus, that fuel excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants.

State erosion control regulations require the installation and maintenance of appropriate practices to prevent and reduce the movement of soil from construction sites to waters of the state. The landowner of a regulated construction site must ensure that erosion control practices are inspected weekly and after a half-inch rainfall, and that maintenance and repair occur as necessary, Bertolacini says.

“While it can be challenging to inspect and repair erosion controls during the winter, it’s important for people to stay on top of conditions at their sites throughout the year,” Bertolacini says. Failure to control erosion at regulated construction sites that results in sediment washing into lakes or rivers can lead to significant fines for the landowner or contractor. Penalties can range up to $25,000 per violation per day.

Information to help guide contractors, developers and landowners through the process of getting an erosion control and stormwater permit can be found on the DNR Web site along with contact information for DNR storm water specialists.

The DNR also has developed a series of technical standards to assist the regulated community in meeting the requirements for construction site erosion control and storm water management.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Bertolacini (608) 264-8971

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PCB clean-up may result in incidental taking of fish from Calumet County creek

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Wisconsin’s endangered species law (s. 29.604, Wis. Stats.) requires the Department of Natural Resources to notify the public when it proposes to authorize the incidental taking of a state endangered or threatened species.]

MADISON – Activities associated with the cleanup of PCBs in Pine Creek in Calumet County, may result in the "incidental taking" of a fish listed as a state threatened species under an authorization the Department of Natural Resources is proposing for the project.

TRC Environmental Corporation plans to remove poly-chlorinated biphenyl contaminated overbank soil and in-channel sediment along 4.1 miles of Pine Creek northeast of New Holstein, between Danes Road and Quarry Road. Previous soil and sediment investigations have identified areas of Pine Creek with total PCB concentrations requiring removal according to US Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

The proposed work may result in the incidental taking of some state threatened greater redhorse (Moxostoma valenciennesi). Although potential spawning habitat exists in Pine Creek within the project boundary, the habitat in the approximately 4-mile long stretch of the proposed work area is not critical to greater redhorse within this basin or on a statewide basis. DNR staff determined that the conservation measures detailed in TRC Environmental Corporation’s conservation plan for the project will minimize impacts to this species, the taking is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence or recovery of the state population of the greater redhorse or the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part; and the action will benefit the public safety that justifies the action.

Excavation will be accomplished using a track-mounted backhoe or similar heavy equipment. In-channel sediment will be dry-excavated through the use of temporary base flow diversions in Pince Creek. Approximately 27,200 cubic yards of soil will be removed from overbank locations, covering an area of approximately 23.3 acres. Approximately 9,200 cubic yards of sediment will be removed from in-channel locations, covering an additional area of approximately 8.6 acres. Clearing and grubbing outside of the excavation areas for construction equipment traffic is estimated to cover an additional 12.6 acres. This is the second phase of this multi-phase project, which includes Hayton Millpond, Pine Creek, Jordan Creek and agricultural drainage ditches. The current phase also includes refurbishment of one deteriorated creek crossing.

The conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the threatened species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Authorization. Copies of the jeopardy assessment, information on the greater redhorse, and conservation plan are available on the Incidental Take page of the DNR Web site or upon request from Rori Paloski, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources, 101 South Webster, Madison, WI 53707, (608) 264-6040. Public comments will be taken through May 22, 2008 and should be sent to Ms. Paloski at the above address.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Rori Paloski, 608-264-6040